Definite length tape dispenser

ABSTRACT

A tape dispenser in which a length of tape is advanced and severed between a pair of cylinders as the cylinders are rotated and including cam means for aiding rotation of the cylinders as the tape is severed.

gth of tape is ad- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,002,958 9/1911 1,553,331 9/1952 Shelley............,............ Pn'mary Examiner-James M. Meister Attorney-Kinney, Alexander, Sell, Steldt & Delahunt 118/40, 83/334, 83/339, 83/346, 83/649 ABSTRACT: A tape dispenser in which a len vanced and severed between a pair of cylinders as the cylin- 81/334, ders are rotated and including cam means for aiding rotation of the cylinders as the tape is severed.

l\ l I 7 3 hig I James E. Smith Roseville, Minn.

[2t] Appl. No. 786,875

Dec. 26, 1968 [45] Patented Feb. 16, 1971 Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company St. Paul, Minn. a corporation of Delaware 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

United States Patent [72] Inventor [22] Filed [73] Assignee [54] DEFINITE LENGTH TAPE DISPENSER [51] Int. [50] Patented Feb: 16, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

gAI IES E JM/TH MMfbiAA fl A TT'ORNEYJ? DEFINITE LENGTH TAPE DISPENSER This invention relates to an improved tape dispenser and in one aspect to a fragrance tape dispenser in which a length of tape is advanced and severed between a pair of cylinders.

The prior art is replete with tape dispensers which range from simple hand-held dispensers in which tape is severed by tearing across an exposed cutting bar to elaborate electrically operated dispensers. In many applications, such as packaging articles or providing samples of tape, it has been found desirable to have a definite length of tape dispensed each time the tape is pulled, a crank is turned, a lever is pushed or an electrical switch is activated. However, as representatively illustrated by U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,518,184; 2,5l9,70l;and 3,237,595, the prior art inventions sever the length of tape near the dispenser exit after it has passed the means provided for advancing the tape. Separated parts are, therefore, required for advancing and severing the tape resulting in increased complexity of the dispenser. Furthermore, when a tape has rupturable microcapsules thereon which contain a fragrance, it is highly desirable to advance the tape, rupture the capsules, and sever the tape along a single line. The number of parts may thereby be reduced and the fragrance on a dispensed portion of tape will not be diminished as it would if the microcapsules were ruptured a long time before the tape on which they are contained was dispensed. At the same time it is highly desirable that the force which must be applied to cause the tape to be severed be less than or equal to the force required to advance the tape or the operator may believe that he has complete the dispensing cycle before the tape is severed and attempt to pull the unsevered tape from the dispenser.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tape dispenser in which a length of tape is advanced and severed between a pair of cylinders upon exertion of an even force throughout the cycle. It is a further object to provide a fragrance tape dispenser in which fragrance containing microcapsules on a length of tape are ruptured between a pair of cylinders used to advance the tape.

The novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a tape dispenser made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3 is a top sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the cooperation of a number of the elements.

A tape dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally designated 10, is illustrated in FIG. I and comprises a generally rectangular case 12 from which a tape advancing bar or lever 14 protrudes through an elongated slot 16 in the case 12. The case 12 is also provided with a tape exit slot 18 through which tape 13 is dispensed.

A pair of supporting pieces 20 and 22 preferably formed from sheets of metal are disposed within case 12 to support the tape dispensing mechanism. Supporting piece 20 provides one normally vertical sidewall and a floor of the supporting structure while supporting piece 22 is spaced from supporting piece 20 to provide a second normally vertical sidewall. At one end of the supporting structure the spacing between the sidewalls of supporting pieces 20 and 22 is reduced generally to the width of a roll of the tape 13 which is to be dispensed and a semicircular strip of metal 24 is secured between them to provide support for the roll of tape 13. A tape roll stop 25 is secured to the side wall of supporting piece 22 above the tape roll support 24 and it extends over the space between supporting pieces 20 and 22 to retain a roll of tape if the dispenser should be inadvertently overturned.

A circular shaft 26 is supported by the sidewalls of supporting pieces and 22 generally centrally thereof for free rotation about its normally horizontal axis. Secured coaxially with and centrally of shaft 26 is a large circular cylinder 28.

A small circular cylinder 32 having generally the same width as large circular cylinder 28 is mounted coaxially with and centrally of a shaft 34. Shaft 34 is supported at its ends in slots 36 and 38 made in the sidewalls of supporting pieces 20 and 22 to permit peripheral contact between cylinders 28 and 32 across their widths at a distance from exit slot 18 in case 12 less than the circumference of small cylinder 32. Slots 36 and 38 are made with a width equal to the diameter of shaft 34 and they are inclined to the edge of supporting pieces 20 and 22 so that as shaft 34 moves along their lengths its axis sweeps out of a plane which contains the axis of shaft 26.

Small cylinder 32 is" forced against large cylinder 28 by a clamp 42 to assure that a length of tape 13 between the cylinders will be advanced as the cylinders 28 and 32 are rotated. In the preferred embodiment, the clamp also urges small cylinder 32 against large cylinder 28 with sufficient force to rupture fragrance containing microcapsules on a fragrance tape such as that described in copending application, Ser. No. 743,511, filed Jul. 9, 1968 by my colleagues Huebner and Paul, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,505 issued on Feb. I0, 1970. The clamp 42 preferably consists of two similar end pieces 44 and 46 and a generally U-shaped crosspiece 48. The end pieces 44 and 46 are mounted one by an end on each sidewall of supporting pieces 20 and 22 for rotation about a line in the plane containing the axis of shafts 26 and 34. The end pieces 44 and 46 are curved to extend around shaft 34 .at least beyond the plane containing the axis of shafts 26 and 34 and their free ends are secured to opposite ends of crosspiece 48 by rivets 56. Short grooves 54 are made in the opposite ends of crosspiece 48 to capture opposite ends of shaft 34 when aligned with slots 36 and 38 in the sidewalls. When aligned with slots 36 and 38, the grooves 54 extend a distance from the axis of large cylinder 28 less than the distance shaft 34 extends therefrom when the clamp :is removed. Thus, when grooves 54 capture the opposite ends of shaft 34 and are aligned with slots 36 and 38 force is exerted on shaft 34 and cylinders 28 and 32 are forced together. A pair of pins 50 and 52 extend from opposite ends of crosspiece 48 to contact the end pieces 44 and 46 when grooves 54 align with slots 36 and 38. The force exerted by shaft 34 on crosspiece 48 then tends to rotate crosspiece 48 about rivets 56 and pins 50 and 52 against end pieces 44 and 46. Thus, through shaft 34, the clamp 42 forces small cylinder 32 against large cylinder 28 while crosspiece 48 may be easily rotated about rivets 56 if it is desired to remove and inspect or replace small cylinder 32.

The cylinders 28 and 32 are preferably formed substantially of a rigid material such as aluminum. A blade 40 is secured in a radial groove across the width of small cylinder 32 and it protrudes from the periphery of cylinder 32 to provide an exposed cutting edge. Large cylinder 28 is preferably formed with a radius that is a whole number multiple of the radius of small cylinder 32 and with a corresponding number of resilient inserts 30 extending across its width at equally spaced intervals about its periphery. The resilient inserts 30 may be formed of a material such as neoprene into which blade 40 is aligned with a resilient insert 30 so that when cylinders 28 and 30 rotate together and cylinder 32 rotates through one revolution blade 40 moves from contact with one resilient insert 30 into contact with the next adjacent resilient insert 30 without contacting the rigid portions of large cylinder 28.

To assure that cylinders 28 and 32 rotate together spur gears 58 and 60 having complementary meshing teeth are preferably secured on shafts 26 and 34 to cylinders 28 and 32, respectively. These gears 58 and 60 have effective radii respectively equal to the radius of cylinder 28 and the radius of cylinder 32.

Extending from the face of large cylinder 28 opposite spur gear 58 are rectangular protrusions 62 of the same number as there are resilient inserts 30. These protrusions 62 are equally spaced in a ring about the axis of large cylinder 28. An advancing bar or lever 14 is mounted on shaft 26 for free rotation thereabout adjacent protrusions 62. One end of the lever 14 extends beyond the periphery of large cylinder 28 and out of the case 12 while the opposite end is urged normally downward by a spring 66 attached to the sidewall. A pawl 64 is rotatably mounted on the face of lever 14 nearest large cylinder 28 so that its mounted end lies within the ring of protrusions 62. A portion of the unsecured end of pawl 64 extends through a notch 68 in lever 14 and is connected to lever 14 by a spring 69 that urges the extended portion against the end of notch 68 to normally position the unextended portion in the ring of protrusions 62. Rotation of lever 14 about shaft 26 is limited by tabs 70 and 72 to an arc swept out by pawl 66 as it moves from engagement with one protrusion 62 into engagement with the next adjacent protrusion 62. The tabs 70 and 72 are located with respect to protrusions 62 such that when lever 14 is urged against tab 72 by spring 66 the pawl 64 engages a protrusion 62 and the blade 40 extending from small cylinder 32 contacts one of the resilient inserts 30.

A cam 76 is secured to spur gear 58 on shaft 26. A circular cam follower 78 is rotatably mounted at one corner of a generally triangular plate 80 as viewed in FlG. 2 to engage the periphery of cam 76. The plate 80 is secured to the sidewall of supporting piece for rotation about a second of its corners and spring 82 is attached to its third corner. The spring 82 is also attached to supporting piece 20 normally above plate 80 to rotate the plate 80 about its secured corner and thereby to force cam follower 78 against cam 76. The cam 76 has curved iteps 77 equally spaced about its periphery of the same number as there are resilient inserts in large cylinder 28. The steps 77 are positioned so that as small cylinder 32 is rotated and blade 40 contacts a resilient insert cam follower 78 begins to move down a curved step 82 toward the axis of cam 76, thereby applying force to the cam 76 to aid its rotation.

A tape tensioner 84 is positioned normally above large cylinder 28 between the tape roll support 24 and the small cylinder 32. One end of the tape guide 84 is formed around a shaft 86 that is secured at its ends to the sidewalls of supporting pieces 20 and 22. The opposite end is channel-shaped to fit across the width of large cylinder 28, extends along large cylinder 28 and terminates adjacent the contact of cylinders 28 and 32. The tape tensioner 84 has an aperture 88 through it above shaft 84 generally of the same width as the tape that is to be dispensed. Torsion springs 90 and 92 are wrapped one around each end of shaft 84. These springs 90 and 92 each have one end secured to a sidewall and the other end pushing on the tape guide 84 to force the channel-shaped end of tape guide 84 against the periphery of large cylinder 28.

A tab 74 extends from the sidewall of supporting piece 20 complementarily to the tab 72 that extends from the sidewall of supporting piece 22 to limit the arc of lever 14. A tape guide plate 94 is secured by two of its edges to tabs 72 and 74 to align its normally frontal edge with tape guide slot 18 and it extends toward and terminates adjacent the line of contact between cylinders 28 and 32 on the opposite side thereof from tape tensioner 84. The end of tape guide plate 94 adjacent the line of contact between cylinders 28 and 32 is beveled to generally conform to the surface of large cylinder 28 so that a length of tape moved between cylinders 28 and 32 will move across the guide plate 94 rather than continuing along the surface of large cylinder 28.

Pins 96 and 98 extend from tape guide plate 94 on opposite edges of a tape path across the tape guide plate 94. A tape retainer 100 normally rests on guide plate 94 with pins 96 and 98 extending through it. The end of tape retainer 100 nearest cylinder 28 and 32 is bent away from guide plate 94 to aid in guiding tape 13 between the guide plate 96 and the tape retainer 100.

in use, a roll of tape such as fragrance tape 13 is placed on the roll supporting strip 24 and its free end is threaded through the aperture 88 in tape tensioner 8d and between tape tensioner 84 and large cylinder 28 to position its free end adjacent the line of contact between cylinders 28 and 32.

To provide a sample of the fragrance contained on the tape 13 the lever 14 is rotated about shaft 26 against spring 66. As the lever 16 is rotated, pawl 64 transmits force to one of the rectangular protrusions 62 thereby rotating large cylinder 28,

spur gear 58 and cam 76 through the same are as lever 14 is rotated. Rotation of large cylinder 28 causes small cylinder 32 to be rotated through spur gears 58 and 60, the blade 40 to be removed from contact with one of the resilient inserts 30 and the fragrance tape 13 urged against large cylinder 28 by tape tensioner 84 to advance until its free end passes between cylinders 28 and 32.

Upon further rotation of cylinders 28 and 32 by lever 14 the force exerted between the contacting surfaces of the cylinders 28 and 32 by clamp 42 causes the tape 13 to be advanced and the microcapsules on the tape 13 to be ruptured releasing the fragrance contained therein. Advancing the tape 13 between cylinders 28 and 32 causes its free end to move across tape guide plate 96 under tape retainer between pins 96 and 98 and out of tape exit slot 18.

As lever 14 nears tab 70, the blade 40, having made one revolution about the axis of small cylinder 32, contacts the fragrance tape 13 above a resilient insert 30. While the blade 40 rotates and contacts the tape 13, the rotation of cam 76 brings the portion of a cam step 77 furthest from the axis of cam 76 into contact with cam follower 78. Rotation of lever 14 from this point to contact with tab 70 causes the blade 40 to sever the tape 13 and contact the resilient insert 30. At the same time the rotation of cam 76 and the force of spring 82 causes the cam follower 78 to move along cam step 77 toward the axis of cam 76 and apply force to the cam step 77 in the direction of rotation of cam 76. Thus, as the blade 40 contacts the tape and severs it against a resilient insert 30 the cam 76, cam follower 77, and spring 82 aid the lever 14 in rotating the cylinders 28 and 32. This generally equalizes the force required to push the lever 14 when the blade 40 contacts a resilient insert 30 with that required when only the smooth surfaces of cylinders 28 and 32 are in contact.

When the tape 13 has been severed, one of the ends of the severed piece protrudes from the case 12 through exit slot 18 while the opposite end is supported between guide plate 94 and retainer 100. Thus, the severed length of tape may be easily grasped and removed to sample the fragrance emanating therefrom, but it will not fall from the case 12.

Upon release of the lever 14, spring 66 urges its free end back along the arc it has traveled toward tab 72. As the free end of lever 14 nears tab 72 the edge of pawl 64 that faces away from the axis of lever 14 contacts a protrusion 62. Upon further movement of lever 14 the edge of pawl 64 contacting protrusion 62 slides along the protrusion forcing the free end of pawl 64 out of the ring of protrusions 62 against the force of spring 69. At the same time, as the free end of lever 14 contacts tab 72, the edge of pawl 64 passes protrusion 62 and spring 69 urges the free end of the pawl 64 back into the ring of protrusions 62. The dispenser is then ready to provide another severed length of tape.

1 claim: 1. A tape dispenser comprising: supporting means; first and second cylinders freely rotatably mounted on said supporting means on parallel axes with their peripheries forcibly engaged, whereby rotation of one of said cylinders causes rotation of the other to advance a length of tape between said cylinders; cutting means secured to and protruding from the periphery of said first cylinder along the length of said first cylinder;

means operatively connected to one of said cylinders for rotating said first cylinder through a predetermined rota tional distance; and

cam means, said cam means including a cam attached to and coaxially rotatable with one of said cylinders and a cam follower attached to said supporting means and resiliently urged against said cam to exert sufficient rotative force against one of said cylinders to generally equalize the force required to rotate said cylinders when said cutting means contacts said second cylinder with that required when only the peripheries of said cylinders are in contact.

v 2. A tape dispenser as recited in claim 1 including means mounted on said supporting means for pressing a portion of a length of tape in said dispenser against the peripheral surface of said second cylinder prior to the entrance of said length of tape between said cylinders whereby after said tape is severed between said cylinders the following'tape will be automatically fed between said cylinders, by rotation of said cylinders, for further advancing and severing.

3. A tape dispenser as recited in claim 2 including means for supporting a supply of tape and means for guiding a length of tape from said tape supporting'means through said dispenser between said pressing means and said second cylinder and between said cylinders. a

4. A tape dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein the radius of said second cylinder is a whole number multiple of the radius of said first cylinder and at least the portions of said second cylinder which said cutting means contacts comprise a resilient material into which said cutting means may extend while severing a length of tape.

5. A tape dispenser as recited in claim 4 including:

a first spur gear secured coaxially to said first cylinder and having an effective diameter equal to the diameter of said I first cylinder; and I a a second spur gear secured coaxially to said second cylinder and having an effective diameter equal to the diameter of said second cylinder, said second spur gear having teeth complementary tothe teeth of said first spurgear and meshing therewith.

6, A tape dispenser as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for rotating one of said cylinders comprises:

a plurality of members secured to one end of said second cylinder and protruding generally perpendicularly therefrom, said members being arranged in a circle about the axis of said second cylinder;

a bar having a generally rectangular cross section rotatably mounted about the axis of said second cylinder adjacent the 'end of said second cyfinder to which said protruding members are secured, spaced therefrom beyond said protruding members and extending from the axis of said second cylinder beyond the circle of said protruding members;

a pawl having a thickness to contact said protruding members when lying between said bar and said second cylinder and having one end rotatably mounted on said bar between said bar and said second cylinder to lie other than in the circle of said protruding members; and

resilient means connecting said bar and the end of said pawl opposite its rotatably mounted end to normallyalign a portion of said opposite end in the circle of said protruding members; i

whereby when said bar is rotated in the direction said pawl generally extends from its rotatably mounted end said upposite end of said pawl pushes on said protruding member causing said cylinder to rotate and when said bar is rotated in the opposite direction said opposite end of said pawl slips by said protruding members and said resilient means urges said opposite end of said pawl back into the circle of said protrudingmembers.

7. A tape dispenser as recited in claim 6 wherein said plurality of members are equally spaced about the circle in which they are arranged and including? means limiting rotation of said barto an are generally equal to the are between adjacent protruding members; and resilient means urging said bar to the end of said limiting arc in the direction opposed to the direction said pawl generally extends from its rotatably mounted end.

8. A tape dispenser as recited in claim 7 wherein there are the same number of protruding members as the radius of said second cylinder is a multiple of the radius of said first cylinder and said means limiting rotation of said bar positions said bar at one end of said limiting are when said cutting means contacts said second cylinder, whereby rotation of said bar through said limiting arc causes said first cylinder to make onerevolution and a length of tape between said cylinders to be advanced and severed at the end of said limiting are.

9. A dispenser for providing samples of a scent or fragrance contained in microcapsules on a length'of fragrance tape comprising:

supporting means;

first and second cylinders freely rotatably mounted on said supporting means on parallel axis with their peripheries engaged, whereby rotation of one of said cylinders causes rotation of the other to advance ale gth of tape between said cylinders; cutting means secured to andprotruding from the periphery of said first cylinder along the length of said first cylinder; means mounted on said supporting means for forcing the contacting peripheries of said cylinders together to provide sufficient pressure therebetween to rupture the microcapsules in a length of said fragrance tape; means operatively connected to one of said cylinders for rotating said first cylinder a predetermined rotational distance; and

cam means, said cam means including a cam attached to and coaxially rotatable with one of said cylinders and a cam follower attached to said supporting means and resiliently urged against said cam to exert sufficient rotative force against one of said cylinders to generally equalize the force required to rotate said cylinders when said cutting means contacts said second cylinder with that required when only the peripheries of said cylinders are in contact. 

1. A tape dispenser comprising: supporting means; first and second cylinders freely rotatably mounted on said supporting means on parallel axes with their peripheries forcibly engaged, whereby rotation of one of said cylinders causes rotation of the other to advance a length of tape between said cylinders; cutting means secured to and protruding from the periphery of said first cylinder along the length of said first cylinder; means operatively connected to one of said cylinders for rotating said first cylinder through a predetermined rotational distance; and cam means, said cam means including a cam attached to and coaxially rotatable with one of said cylinders and a cam follower attached to said supporting means and resiliently urged against said cam to exert sufficient rotative force against one of said cylinders to generally equalize the force required to rotate said cylinders when said cutting means contacts said second cylinder with that required when only the peripheries of said cylinders are in contact.
 2. A tape dispenser as recited in claim 1 including means mounted on said supporting means for pressing a portion of a length of tape in said dispenser against the peripheral surface of said second cylinder prior to the entrance of said length of tape between said cylinders whereby after said tape is severed between said cylinders the following tape will be automatically fed between said cylinders, by rotation of said cylinders, for further advancing and severing.
 3. A tape dispenser as recited in claim 2 including means for supporting a supply of tape and means for guiding a length of tape from said tape supporting means through said dispenser between said pressing means and said second cylinder and between said cylinders.
 4. A tape dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein the radius of said second cylinder is a whole number multiple of the radius of said first cylinder and at least the portions of said second cylinder which said cutting means contacts comprise a resilient material into which said cutting means may extend while severing a length of tape.
 5. A tape dispenser as recited in claim 4 including: a first spur gear secured coaxially to said first cylinder and having an effective diameter equal to the diameter of said first cylinder; and a second spur gear secured coaxially to said second cylinder and having an effective diameter equal to the diameter of said second cylinder, said second spur gear having teeth complementary to the teeth of said first spur gear and meshing therewith.
 6. A tape dispenser as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for rotating one of said cylinders comprises: a plurality of members secured to one end of said second cylinder and protruding generally perpendicularly therefrom, said members being arranged in a circle about the axis of said second cylinder; a bar having a generally rectangular cross section rotatably mounted about the axis of said second cylinder adjacent the end of said second cylinder to which said protruding members are secured, spaced therefrom beyond said prOtruding members and extending from the axis of said second cylinder beyond the circle of said protruding members; a pawl having a thickness to contact said protruding members when lying between said bar and said second cylinder and having one end rotatably mounted on said bar between said bar and said second cylinder to lie other than in the circle of said protruding members; and resilient means connecting said bar and the end of said pawl opposite its rotatably mounted end to normally align a portion of said opposite end in the circle of said protruding members; whereby when said bar is rotated in the direction said pawl generally extends from its rotatably mounted end said opposite end of said pawl pushes on said protruding member causing said cylinder to rotate and when said bar is rotated in the opposite direction said opposite end of said pawl slips by said protruding members and said resilient means urges said opposite end of said pawl back into the circle of said protruding members.
 7. A tape dispenser as recited in claim 6 wherein said plurality of members are equally spaced about the circle in which they are arranged and including: means limiting rotation of said bar to an arc generally equal to the arc between adjacent protruding members; and resilient means urging said bar to the end of said limiting arc in the direction opposed to the direction said pawl generally extends from its rotatably mounted end.
 8. A tape dispenser as recited in claim 7 wherein there are the same number of protruding members as the radius of said second cylinder is a multiple of the radius of said first cylinder and said means limiting rotation of said bar positions said bar at one end of said limiting arc when said cutting means contacts said second cylinder, whereby rotation of said bar through said limiting arc causes said first cylinder to make one revolution and a length of tape between said cylinders to be advanced and severed at the end of said limiting arc.
 9. A dispenser for providing samples of a scent or fragrance contained in microcapsules on a length of fragrance tape comprising: supporting means; first and second cylinders freely rotatably mounted on said supporting means on parallel axis with their peripheries engaged, whereby rotation of one of said cylinders causes rotation of the other to advance a length of tape between said cylinders; cutting means secured to and protruding from the periphery of said first cylinder along the length of said first cylinder; means mounted on said supporting means for forcing the contacting peripheries of said cylinders together to provide sufficient pressure therebetween to rupture the microcapsules in a length of said fragrance tape; means operatively connected to one of said cylinders for rotating said first cylinder a predetermined rotational distance; and cam means, said cam means including a cam attached to and coaxially rotatable with one of said cylinders and a cam follower attached to said supporting means and resiliently urged against said cam to exert sufficient rotative force against one of said cylinders to generally equalize the force required to rotate said cylinders when said cutting means contacts said second cylinder with that required when only the peripheries of said cylinders are in contact. 